Eric Longabardi, reporting for “The Enterprise Report” at ERSNews.com, reports on the “secret FAA airmen files” of Mohamed Atta, the lead pilot in the terrorist attacks of 9/11. The files, posted on the site, and additional exclusive materials provide details about the extensive flight training that helped Atta earn a commercial pilot’s license in the [...]
Archive for June, 2007
Posted in 
Sunshine Laws disregarded by council members
June 27th, 2007 
rescntr Beth Kormanik of The (Jacksonville, Fla.) Times-Union evaluated the daily calendars of city council members from June 1, 2005, to Dec. 1, 2006 and found dozens of meetings that violated Florida’s open meetings laws. “The computer-assisted analysis documented 307 scheduled meetings, excluding committee and full council meetings. Forty-seven calendar listings dealt with specific items of [...]
Biotech developer scams Florida cities
June 26th, 2007 rescntr A seven-month investigation by Jason Grotto of The Miami Herald reveals how a Boston developer, Dennis Stackhouse, collected millions of dollars for a biotech park. He promised to create thousands of jobs in one of Miami-Dade’s neediest neighborhood, but nothing was ever built. Part two of the series shows how Stackhouse received support for the [...]
Inspections at the pumps thwart consumer fraud
June 25th, 2007 rescntr In a time of rising gas prices, Eric Morath of The Detroit News brings some good news: increased inspections have reduced likelihood of consumers being cheated at the pump. In 2006, there were more inspections of Michigan pumps than the previous three years combined, leading to detection of 1,358 faulty meters and $250,000 in fines.
Danger in Tow: An investigation into U-Haul International
June 25th, 2007 rescntr A year-long investigation by Myron Levin and Alan C. Miller of the Los Angeles Times reveals that practices of U-Haul International, the nation’s largest provider of rental trailers, are compromising safety on the road. The three-part series explores how U-Haul policies increase likelihood of accidents; spotty maintenance practices; and how, when sued, U-Haul has a [...]
Juvenile sex offenders pose problems to schools
June 25th, 2007 rescntr A report by Anna Song of KATU-Portland, Ore. reveals that juvenile sex offenders often go right back to school after being charged.. Due to their status as minors, school administrators cannot disseminate this information beyond the staff. The story exposes the inconsistency of local school policies when it comes to such offenders: Some schools tell [...]
Lead hazards still taint cheap toys
June 25th, 2007 rescntr Mary Shedden of The Tampa Tribune reports on the continuing problem of lead turning up in children’s toys produced outside the U.S. Using independent testing, her investigation turned up toxic levels of lead in one out of three pieces of costume jewelry or trinkets purchased from area stores. In some cases, items subject to recalls [...]
Mothball fleet polluting Suisun Bay
June 22nd, 2007 rescntr An aged maritime fleet located in Suisun Bay off the coast of California is an environmental threat according to an investigation by Thomas Peele of the Contra Costa Times. Over 21 tons of toxic metals have shed off the decaying ships into the water creating a significant environmental risk, significantly greater than Maritime Administration office [...]
Secret Shelters
June 21st, 2007 rescntr Fred Kelly reports on a two-week investigation by The Charlotte Observer which uncovered an “underground network” of shelters and safe houses, many run by religious ministries, which have sprung up as official shelters face issues of overcrowding. Exact numbers on how many of these make-shift shelters exist are unknown, but The Observer located 17 in [...]
Broken hydrants pepper Chicago suburbs
June 21st, 2007 rescntr Over the last three months the CBS2 Investigators exposed numerous broken fire hydrants throughout Chicago
